Display device and electronic apparatus

ABSTRACT

A display device includes: a first main pixel being configured to emit light of a first color, and a second main pixel being configured to emit light of a second color; and a first auxiliary pixel and a second auxiliary pixel on the second area, the first auxiliary pixel being configured to emit light of the first color, and the second auxiliary pixel being configured to emit light of the second color, wherein a first virtual line passing through a center of an emission area of the first main pixel and a center of an emission area of the first auxiliary pixel is parallel to a first direction, and a second virtual line passing through a center of an emission area of the second main pixel and a center of an emission area of the second auxiliary pixel crosses the first direction.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.17/342,269, filed Jun. 8, 2021, which claims priority to and the benefitof Korean Patent Application No. 10-2020-0095579, filed Jul. 30, 2020,the entire content of both of which is incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND 1. Field

Aspects of one or more example embodiments relate to a display deviceand an electronic apparatus.

2. Description of the Related Art

In general, display devices include a display element and electronicelements for controlling an electrical signal applied to the displayelement. The electronic elements include a thin-film transistor (TFT), astorage capacitor, and a plurality of wires.

Recently, the use of display devices has diversified. In addition,because display devices have become thinner and lighter, their range ofuses has expanded. As the range of uses of display devices has becomemore diversified, various methods of designing the shapes of the displaydevices have been studied.

The above information disclosed in this Background section is only forenhancement of understanding of the background and therefore theinformation discussed in this Background section does not necessarilyconstitute prior art.

SUMMARY

Aspects of one or more example embodiments relate to a display deviceand an electronic apparatus, and for example, to a display device inwhich boundary visibility is minimized in a display area.

In display devices, the boundary of the display area may be perceived byviewers.

Aspects of one or more example embodiments include a display device inwhich the boundary visibility of a display area is minimized or reduced.However, such a characteristic is merely an example characteristic ofsome example embodiments, and the disclosure is not limited thereto.

Additional aspects will be set forth in part in the description whichfollows and, in part, will be more apparent from the description, or maybe learned by practice of the presented example embodiments.

According to one or more example embodiments, a display device includesa substrate including a first area and a second area in contact with thefirst area, a first main pixel and a second main pixel arranged on thefirst area, the first main pixel emitting light of a first color, andthe second main pixel emitting light of a second color, and a firstauxiliary pixel and a second auxiliary pixel arranged on the secondarea, the first auxiliary pixel emitting light of the first color, andthe second auxiliary pixel emitting light of the second color, wherein afirst virtual line passing through a center of an emission area of thefirst main pixel and a center of an emission area of the first auxiliarypixel is parallel to a first direction, and a second virtual linepassing through a center of an emission area of the second main pixeland a center of an emission area of the second auxiliary pixel crossesthe first direction.

According to some example embodiments, the first auxiliary pixel may bearranged closer to the first area than the second auxiliary pixel.

According to some example embodiments, a shortest distance between thefirst main pixel and the first auxiliary pixel may be less than ashortest distance between the second main pixel and the second auxiliarypixel.

According to some example embodiments, an angle between the firstvirtual line and the second virtual line may be 45° or less.

According to some example embodiments, the first main pixel and thefirst auxiliary pixel may emit green light.

According to some example embodiments, the second main pixel and thesecond auxiliary pixel may emit red or blue light.

According to some example embodiments, the area of the emission area ofthe first main pixel may be less than the area of the emission area ofthe second main pixel, and the area of the emission area of the firstauxiliary pixel may be less than the area of the emission area of thesecond auxiliary pixel.

According to some example embodiments, the display device may furtherinclude a third main pixel arranged on the first area and emitting lightof a third color, and a third auxiliary pixel arranged on the secondarea and emitting light of the third color.

According to some example embodiments, a third virtual line passingthrough a center of an emission area of the third main pixel and acenter of an emission area of the third auxiliary pixel may cross thefirst direction.

According to some example embodiments, the second virtual line and thethird virtual line may cross each other.

According to some example embodiments, a fourth virtual line passingthrough each of the center of the emission area of the second main pixeland a center of an emission area of a third main pixel may be spacedapart from and parallel to the first virtual line, and the secondauxiliary pixel may not be arranged on the fourth virtual line.

According to some example embodiments, the display device may furtherinclude a third auxiliary pixel arranged on the second area and emittinglight of a third color, wherein a fifth virtual line passing through thecenter of the emission area of the second auxiliary pixel and a centerof an emission area of the third auxiliary pixel mat be spaced apartfrom and parallel to the fourth virtual line.

According to some example embodiments, the first main pixel and thefirst auxiliary pixel, which are arranged on the first area, and thesecond main pixel and the second auxiliary pixel, which are arranged onthe second area, may each be arranged in a pentile type.

According to some example embodiments, the area of the emission area ofthe first auxiliary pixel may be greater than the area of the emissionarea of the first main pixel.

According to one or more example embodiments, a display device includesa substrate including a first area and a second area in contact with thefirst area, a first main pixel and a second main pixel arranged on thefirst area, the first main pixel emitting light of a first color, andthe second main pixel emitting light of a second color, and a firstauxiliary pixel and a second auxiliary pixel arranged on the secondarea, the first auxiliary pixel emitting light of the first color, andthe second auxiliary pixel emitting light of the second color, whereinthe area of an emission area of the first main pixel is less than thearea of an emission area of the second main pixel, the area of anemission area of the first auxiliary pixel is less than the area of anemission area of the second auxiliary pixel, and the first auxiliarypixel is arranged closer to the first area than the second area.

According to some example embodiments, the first main pixel and thefirst auxiliary pixel may emit green light.

According to some example embodiments, the first main pixel and thefirst auxiliary pixel, and the second main pixel and the secondauxiliary pixel may be closest to each other at a boundary between thefirst area and the second area.

According to some example embodiments, a shortest distance between thefirst main pixel and the first auxiliary pixel may be less than ashortest distance between the second main pixel and the second auxiliarypixel.

According to some example embodiments, the first main pixel and thesecond main pixel, which are arranged on the first area, may be arrangedin a pentile type, and the first auxiliary pixel and the secondauxiliary pixel, which are arranged on the second area, may be arrangedin a stripe type.

According to some example embodiments, the display device may furtherinclude a component arranged to overlap the second area.

According to some example embodiments, the second area may be at atleast one corner portion of the display area, and at least a portion ofthe substrate corresponding to the second area may include a throughportion.

According to some example embodiments, a first virtual line passingthrough a center of the emission area of the first main pixel and acenter of the emission area of the first auxiliary pixel may be parallelto a first direction.

According to some example embodiments, a second virtual line passingthrough a center of the emission area of the second main pixel and acenter of the emission area of the second auxiliary pixel may cross thefirst direction.

According to some example embodiments, an angle between the firstvirtual line and the second virtual line may be 45° or less.

According to some example embodiments, the area of the emission area ofthe first auxiliary pixel may be greater than the area of the emissionarea of the first main pixel.

According to one or more example embodiments, an electronic apparatusincludes a display device including a first area and a second area incontact with the first area, the display device including an array of aplurality of main pixels arranged on the first area, and an array of aplurality of auxiliary pixels arranged on the second area, and acomponent arranged to overlap the second area, wherein the displaydevice includes a first main pixel and a second main pixel arranged onthe first area, the first main pixel emitting light of a first color,and the second main pixel emitting light of a second color, and a firstauxiliary pixel and a second auxiliary pixel arranged on the secondarea, the first auxiliary pixel emitting light of the first color, andthe second auxiliary pixel emitting light of the second color, wherein afirst virtual line passing through a center of an emission area of thefirst main pixel and a center of an emission area of the first auxiliarypixel is parallel to a first direction, and a second virtual linepassing through the center of the emission area of the second main pixeland the center of the emission area of the second auxiliary pixelcrosses the first direction.

The above and other aspects, features, and characteristics of certainexample embodiments according to the present disclosure will be moreapparent from the following description, the accompanying drawings, andclaims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above and other aspects, features, and characteristics of certainexample embodiments will be more apparent from the following descriptiontaken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGS. 1A and 1B are schematic plan views of an electronic apparatusincluding a display device according to some example embodiments;

FIGS. 2A and 2B are cross-sectional views of a portion of an electronicapparatus including a display device according to some exampleembodiments;

FIGS. 3A and 3B are schematic plan views of an electronic apparatusincluding a display device according to some example embodiments;

FIG. 4 is a schematic plan view of a display device included in anelectronic apparatus according to some example embodiments;

FIG. 5 is a schematic perspective view of an electronic apparatusaccording to some example embodiments;

FIGS. 6A, 6B, and 6C are schematic cross-sectional views of anelectronic apparatus according to some example embodiments;

FIG. 7 is a schematic plan view of a display panel according to someexample embodiments;

FIG. 8 is an enlarged view of a portion of a display panel according tosome example embodiments;

FIGS. 9A and 9B are equivalent circuit diagrams of pixels that may beincluded in a display device according to some example embodiments;

FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of a portion of a display panel of adisplay device according to some example embodiments;

FIGS. 11 and 12 are schematic plan views of a portion of a display areaaccording to some example embodiments; and

FIGS. 13 and 14 are schematic plan views of a portion of a display areaaccording to some example embodiments.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Reference will now be made in more detail to aspects of some exampleembodiments, which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, whereinlike reference numerals refer to like elements throughout. In thisregard, the present embodiments may have different forms and should notbe construed as being limited to the descriptions set forth herein.Accordingly, the embodiments are merely described below, by referring tothe figures, to explain aspects of the present description. As usedherein, the term “and/or” includes any and all combinations of one ormore of the associated listed items. Throughout the disclosure, theexpression “at least one of a, b, or c” indicates only a, only b, onlyc, both a and b, both a and c, both b and c, all of a, b, and c, orvariations thereof.

As the present description allows for various changes and numerousembodiments, certain embodiments will be illustrated in the drawings anddescribed in the written description. Effects and features of thedisclosure, and methods for achieving them will be clarified withreference to embodiments described below in detail with reference to thedrawings. However, the disclosure is not limited to the followingembodiments and may be embodied in various forms.

Hereinbelow, aspects of some example embodiments will be described withreference to the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numeralsrefer to like elements throughout and some repeated description thereofmay be omitted.

It will be understood that although the terms “first,” “second,” etc.may be used herein to describe various elements, these elements shouldnot be limited by these terms. These terms are only used to distinguishone element from another.

As used herein, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” are intended toinclude the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicatesotherwise.

It will be understood that terms such as “comprise,” “include,” and“have” used herein specify the presence of stated features or elements,but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more otherfeatures or elements.

It will be understood that when a layer, region, or element is referredto as being “on” another layer, region, or element, it may be “directlyon” the other layer, region, or element or may be “indirectly on” theother layer, region, or element with one or more intervening layers,regions, or elements therebetween.

In the following embodiments, it will be understood that when a layer,region, or element is referred to as being “connected to” or “coupledto” another layer, region, and element, it may be directly or indirectlyconnected or coupled to the other layer, region, or element. That is,for example, intervening layers, regions, or elements may be present.For example, when layers, regions, or elements are referred to as beingelectrically connected to each other, they may be directly electricallyconnected to each other or indirectly electrically connected to eachother with intervening layers, regions, or elements therebetween.

In the present specification, the expression “A and/or B” indicates onlyA, only B, or both A and B. The expression “at least one of A or B”indicates only A, only B, or both A and B.

The x-axis, the y-axis, and the z-axis are not limited to three axes ofthe rectangular coordinate system, and may be interpreted in a broadersense. For example, the x-axis, the y-axis, and the z-axis may beperpendicular to one another or may represent different directions thatare not perpendicular to one another.

When a certain embodiment may be implemented differently, a specificprocess order may be performed differently from the described order. Forexample, two consecutively described processes may be performedsubstantially at the same time or performed in an order opposite to thedescribed order.

Sizes of elements in the drawings may be exaggerated or reduced forconvenience of explanation. For example, because sizes and thicknessesof elements in the drawings are arbitrarily illustrated for convenienceof explanation, the disclosure is not limited thereto.

A display device included in electronic apparatuses 1, 1′, and 1″described below with reference to the accompanying drawings is a devicefor displaying a video or still images, and may be used as a displayscreen of portable electronic devices, such as mobile phones,smartphones, tablet personal computers (PCs), mobile communicationterminals, electronic notebooks, electronic books, portable multimediaplayers (PMPs), navigations, and ultra mobile PCs (UMPCs), as well asvarious products such as televisions, laptop computers, monitors,advertisement boards, and Internet of Things (IoT) devices. Also, thedisplay device according to some example embodiments may be used inwearable devices such as smartwatches, watch phones, glasses-typedisplays, and a head-mounted displays (HMDs). Further, the displaydevice according to some example embodiments may be used as a centerinformation display (CID) arranged on an instrument panel of a vehicle,a center fascia, or a dashboard of a vehicle, a room mirror displayfunctioning in place of a side mirror of a vehicle, and a displayarranged on the back of a front seat as an entertaining element for arear seat of a vehicle.

FIGS. 1A and 1B are schematic plan views of an electronic apparatus 1including a display device according to some example embodiments.

Referring to FIGS. 1A and 1B, the electronic apparatus 1 may include adisplay area DA, and a peripheral area NDA outside the display area DA.The display area DA may include a first area DA1 defined as a maindisplay area, and a second area DA2 defined as an auxiliary display areaor a component area. The second area DA2 may be arranged so that atleast a portion thereof is in contact with the first area DA1. Accordingto some example embodiments, the second area DA2 may be partially orcompletely surrounded by the first area DA1.

The electronic apparatus 1 may display images through an array of aplurality of pixels that are two-dimensionally arranged in the displayarea DA (e.g., the first area DA1 and the second area DA2). The pixelsmay include main pixels Pm arranged in the first area DA1 and auxiliarypixels Pa arranged in the second area DA2. The first area DA1 and thesecond area DA2 may display images individually (e.g., such that theydisplay separate images) or together (e.g., such that they each displaya portion of the same image to collectively display the entirety of thesame image).

The peripheral area NDA may be a non-display area in which no displayelements are arranged. The display area DA may be entirely surrounded bythe peripheral area NDA. A driver for providing an electrical signal orpower to the main pixels Pm and the auxiliary pixels Pa may be arrangedin the peripheral area NDA. A pad, which is an area to which anelectronic element or a printed circuit board may be electricallyconnected, may be arranged in the peripheral area NDA.

FIG. 1A illustrates that one second area DA2 is in the first area DA1.Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 1B, the second area DA2 may be on oneside of the first area DA1. According to some example embodiments, theelectronic apparatus 1 may include two or more second areas DA2 as shownin FIGS. 3A and 5 to be described below, and shapes and sizes of thesecond areas DA2 may be the same as or different from each other. Aratio of the size of the area of the second area DA2 to the size of theoverall display area DA may be less than a ratio of the size of thefirst area DA1 to the size of the overall display area DA.

When viewed in a direction substantially perpendicular to an uppersurface of the electronic apparatus 1 (e.g., when viewed in a plan view,or from a view normal or perpendicular with respect to the displaysurface of the display area DA), the second area DA2 may have a circularshape that is approximately octagonal as shown in FIG. 1A, or a bar-typerectangular shape as shown in FIG. 1B. The shame of the second displayarea DA2 is not limited thereto, however, and the second display areaDA2 may have any suitable shape according to the design of theelectronic apparatus 1. For example, the second area DA2 may havevarious shapes including a polygon such as a hexagon or the like, acircle, an ellipse, a star, or a diamond shape. Also, when viewed in thedirection substantially perpendicular (e.g., normal) to the uppersurface of the electronic apparatus 1, FIG. 1A illustrates that thesecond area DA2 is arranged in the upper center (a+y direction) of thedisplay area DA having corners each having a substantially roundrectangular shape, but the second area DA2 may be arranged on one sideof the display area DA, for example, the upper right side or the upperleft side of the display area DA. That is the location of the secondarea DA2 within the display area DA may vary according to the design ofthe electronic apparatus 1.

The second area DA2 may include a transmission area TA between theauxiliary pixels Pa. The transmission area TA is an area through whichlight may pass, and a pixel may not be arranged therein.

The auxiliary pixels Pa may be arranged in the second area DA2. Each ofthe auxiliary pixels Pa includes at least one sub-pixel and may beimplemented by a display element such as an organic light-emitting diode(OLED). Each of the auxiliary pixels Pa may emit at least one of, forexample, red, green, blue, or white light.

The transmission area TA may be arranged to surround the auxiliarypixels Pa. Alternatively, the transmission area TA may be alternatelyarranged with the auxiliary pixels Pa.

Because the second area DA2 includes the transmission area TA, aresolution of the second area DA2 may be lower than a resolution of thefirst area DA1. For example, the resolution of the second area DA2 maybe about ½, ⅜, ⅓, ¼, 2/9, ⅛, 1/9, or 1/16 of the resolution of the firstarea DA1. For example, the resolution of the second area DA2 may beabout 200 ppi or about 100 ppi, and the resolution of the first area DA1may be about 400 ppi or higher.

The main pixels Pm may be arranged in the first area DA1. Each of themain pixels Pm includes at least one sub-pixel and may be implemented bya display element such as an OLED. Each of the main pixels Pm may emit,for example, red, green, blue, or white light.

As described below with reference to FIG. 2A or 2B, in the second areaDA2, a component 20 (see FIG. 2 ), which is an electronic element, maybe arranged under a display device 10, to correspond to the second areaDA2.

Examples of the electronic apparatus 1 may include mobile phones, tabletPCs, laptop computers, smartwatches or smart bands worn on a wrist, etc.

Hereinbelow, although an organic light-emitting display device isdescribed as an example of the display device 10 included in theelectronic apparatus 1 according to some example embodiments, thedisplay device according to the disclosure is not limited thereto.According to some example embodiments, the display device 10 accordingto some example embodiments may be an inorganic light-emitting display,an inorganic electroluminescence (EL) display, or a quantum dotlight-emitting display. For example, an emission layer of a displayelement provided in the display device 10 may include an organicmaterial, an inorganic material, quantum dots, an organic material andquantum dots, or an inorganic material and quantum dots.

FIGS. 2A and 2B are cross-sectional views of a portion of an electronicapparatus 1 including a display device 10 according to some exampleembodiments.

Referring to FIGS. 2A and 2B, the electronic apparatus 1 may include thedisplay device 10 and a component 20 overlapping the display device 10.

The display device 10 may include a display panel 10P and a cover window700 above the display panel 10P, the display panel 10P including asubstrate 100, a display layer 200 arranged on the substrate 100, athin-film encapsulation layer 300A on the display layer 200, an inputsensing layer 400, an optical functional layer 500, and ananti-reflective layer 600.

The component 20 may be in the second area DA2. The component 20 may bean electronic element using light or sound. For example, the electronicelement may be a sensor that measures a distance, such as a proximitysensor, a sensor that recognizes a part of a user's body (e.g., afingerprint, an iris, a face, etc.), a small lamp that outputs light, animage sensor (e.g., a camera) that captures an image, etc. Theelectronic element using light may use light of various wavelengthbands, such as visible light, infrared light, and ultraviolet light. Theelectronic element using sound may use ultrasonic waves or sound ofother frequency bands. In some embodiments, the component 20 may includesub-components such as a light-emitting portion and a light-receivingportion. The light-emitting portion and the light-receiving portion mayhave an integrated structure or a physically separated structure, sothat a pair of the light-emitting portion and the light-receivingportion may constitute one component 20.

The substrate 100 may include glass or a polymer resin. For example, thesubstrate 100 may include a polymer resin such as polyethersulfone,polyacrylate, polyether imide, polyethylene naphthalate, polyethyleneterephthalide, polyphenylene sulfide, polyarylate, polyimide,polycarbonate, or cellulose acetate propionate. The substrate 100including the polymer resin may be flexible, rollable, or bendable. Thesubstrate 100 may have a multi-layered structure including a layerincluding the aforementioned polymer resin and an inorganic layer (notshown).

The display layer 200 is arranged on a front surface of the substrate100, and a lower protective film 175 may be arranged on a rear surfaceof the substrate 100. The lower protective film 175 may be attached tothe rear surface of the substrate 100. An adhesive layer may be betweenthe lower protective film 175 and the substrate 100. Alternatively, thelower protective film 175 may be directly formed on the rear surface ofthe substrate 100, and in this case, the adhesive layer is not betweenthe lower protective film 175 and the substrate 100.

The lower protective film 175 may support and protect the substrate 100.The lower protective film 175 may include an opening 175OP correspondingto the second area DA2. The opening 175OP of the lower protective film175 is a concave portion formed by removing a portion of the lowerprotective film 175 in a thickness direction thereof. According to someexample embodiments, the opening 175OP of the lower protective film 175may be formed by completely removing the portion of the lower protectivefilm 175 in the thickness direction thereof, and in this case, theopening 175OP may have a shape of a through hole as shown in FIGS. 2Aand 2B. According to some example embodiments, the opening 175OP of thelower protective film 175 may be formed by partially removing theportion of the lower protective film 175 in the thickness directionthereof, and thus the opening 175OP may have a shape of a recessedblind-hole that does not completely penetrate the lower protective film175 as shown in FIG. 2A.

Because the lower protective film 175 includes the opening 175OP, atransmittance of the second area DA2, for example, a light transmittanceof the transmission area TA, may be relatively improved. The lowerprotective film 175 may include an organic insulating layer such aspolyethylene terephthalate (PET) or polyimide (PI).

The display layer 200 may include a plurality of pixels. The displaylayer 200 may include a display element layer including an organiclight-emitting diode OLED that is a display element, a circuit layerincluding a thin-film transistor TFT electrically connected to theorganic light-emitting diode OLED, and an insulating layer IL. Thethin-film transistor TFT and the organic light-emitting diode OLEDelectrically connected to the thin-film transistor TFT may be arrangedin the first area DA1 and the second area DA2, respectively.

The second area DA2 may include the transmission area TA in which thethin-film transistor TFT and the organic light-emitting diode OLED arenot arranged. The transmission area TA is an area through which lightemitted from the component 20 and/or light directed to the component 20may be transmitted. In the display device 10, a transmittance of thetransmission area TA may be about 30% or higher, about 40% or higher,about 50% or higher, about 60% or higher, about 70% or higher, about 75%or higher, about 80% or higher, about 85% or higher, or about 90% orhigher.

A bottom metal layer BML may be between the substrate 100 and thedisplay layer 200, for example, between the substrate 100 and thethin-film transistor TFT. The bottom metal layer BML may include athrough hole BML-TH through which light emitted from the component 20 orlight directed to the component 20 may pass. The through hole BML-TH ofthe bottom metal layer BML is in the transmission area TA. A portion ofthe bottom metal layer BML, in which the through hole BML-TH is notformed, may prevent or reduce instances of light being diffractedthrough a pixel circuit PC (see FIG. 9A or 9B) arranged in the secondarea DA2 or a narrow gap between wires connected to the pixel circuitPC, and may relatively improve the performance of the thin-filmtransistor TFT. The portion of the bottom metal layer BML is not in thetransmission area TA. For example, the bottom metal layer BML mayinclude hole(s) in the transmission area TA.

The display layer 200 may be sealed with an encapsulation member. Insome embodiments, the encapsulation member may include the thin-filmencapsulation layer 300A as shown in FIG. 2A. The thin-filmencapsulation layer 300A may include at least one inorganicencapsulation layer and at least one organic encapsulation layer.According to some example embodiments, the thin-film encapsulation layer300A may include a first inorganic encapsulation layer 310, a secondinorganic encapsulation layer 330, and an organic encapsulation layer320 therebetween.

According to some example embodiments, the encapsulation member mayinclude an encapsulation substrate 300B as shown in FIG. 2B. Theencapsulation substrate 300B may be arranged to face the substrate 100with the display layer 200 therebetween. A gap may be between theencapsulation substrate 300B and the display layer 200. Theencapsulation substrate 300B may include glass. A sealant is arrangedbetween the substrate 100 and the encapsulation substrate 300B, and thesealant may be arranged in the peripheral area NDA described above withreference to FIG. 1A or 1B. The sealant arranged in the peripheral areaNDA may surround the display area DA and prevent or reduce instances ofmoisture penetrating through side surfaces of the display area DA.

The input sensing layer 400 may obtain coordinate information accordingto an external input, for example, a touch event using an object such asa finger or a stylus pen. The input sensing layer 400 may include atouch electrode, and trace lines connected to the touch electrode. Theinput sensing layer 400 may sense an external input using a mutualcapacitance method or a self-capacitance method.

The input sensing layer 400 may be formed on the encapsulation member.Alternatively, the input sensing layer 400 may be separately formed andthen coupled onto the encapsulation member using an adhesive layer suchas an optical clear adhesive OCA. According to some example embodiments,as shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B, the input sensing layer 400 may be directlyformed on the thin-film encapsulation layer 300A or the encapsulationsubstrate 300B, and in this case, the adhesive layer may not be betweenthe input sensing layer 400 and the thin-film encapsulation layer 300Aor the encapsulation substrate 300B.

The optical functional layer 500 may relatively improve the lightefficiency. For example, the front light efficiency and/or sidevisibility of light emitted from the organic light-emitting diode OLEDmay be relatively improved, and diffraction of light passing through thetransmission area TA toward the component 20 may be minimized, reduced,or prevented.

The anti-reflective layer 600 may reduce a reflectance of light(external light) incident from the outside toward the display device 10.

According to some example embodiments, the anti-reflective layer 600 mayinclude an optical plate including a retarder and/or a polarizer. Theretarder may include a film-type retarder or a liquid crystalcoating-type retarder, and may include a λ/2 retarder and/or a λ/4retarder. The polarizer may also include a film-type polarizer or aliquid crystal coating-type polarizer. The film-type polarizer mayinclude a stretchable synthetic resin, and the liquid crystalcoating-type polarizer may include liquid crystals arranged in a certainarrangement.

According to some example embodiments, the anti-reflective layer 600 mayinclude a filter plate including a black matrix and color filters. Thefilter plate may include color filters, a black matrix, and an overcoatlayer arranged for each pixel.

According to some example embodiments, the anti-reflective layer 600 mayinclude a destructive interference structure. The destructiveinterference structure may include a first reflective layer and a secondreflective layer, which are arranged on different layers. Firstreflected light and second reflected light reflected respectively fromthe first reflective layer and the second reflective layer maydestructively interfere with each other, and thus a reflectance ofexternal light may be reduced.

The cover window 700 may be arranged above the display panel 10P. Thecover window 700 may be arranged on the anti-reflective layer 600 andmay be coupled to the anti-reflective layer 600 using an adhesive layersuch as an OCA.

Although FIGS. 2A and 2B illustrate that the cover window 700 isarranged over the anti-reflective layer 600, according to some exampleembodiments, positions of the anti-reflective layer 600 and the opticalfunctional layer 500 may be switched with one another. In this case, thecover window 700 may be coupled to the optical functional layer 500using an adhesive layer such as an OCA. According to some exampleembodiments, the OCA may be omitted between the cover window 700 and alayer under the cover window 700 (e.g., the anti-reflective layer 600 orthe optical functional layer 500).

One component 20 or a plurality of components 20 may be arranged in thesecond area DA2. When the electronic apparatus 1 includes a plurality ofcomponents 20, the electronic apparatus 1 may include a plurality ofsecond areas DA2 corresponding to the number of components 20. Forexample, the electronic apparatus 1 may include a plurality of secondareas DA2 apart from each other. According to some example embodiments,the components 20 may be arranged in one second area DA2. For example,the electronic apparatus 1 may include a bar-type second area DA2 asdescribed above with reference to FIG. 1B, and the components 20 may bearranged to be spaced apart from each other in a lengthwise direction(e.g., an x-direction of FIG. 1 ) of the second area DA2.

FIGS. 3A and 3B are schematic plan views of an electronic apparatus 1′including a display device according to some example embodiments, andFIG. 4 is a schematic plan view of a display device 10 included in anelectronic apparatus according to some example embodiments.

Referring to FIGS. 3A and 3B, the electronic apparatus 1′ may include afirst area DA1 defined as a main display area of the display area DA,and a second area DA2 defined as an auxiliary display area of thedisplay area DA. The second area DA2 may be arranged so that at least aportion thereof is in contact with the first area DA1.

The electronic apparatus 1′ shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B is substantiallysimilar to that of FIGS. 1A and 1B described above, but there is adifference in that the second area DA2 is arranged outside the firstarea DA1. Other configurations are the same as those of theaforementioned embodiments, and thus differences are mainly describedbelow.

In the display area DA of the electronic apparatus 1′, the second areaDA2 may partially overlap the peripheral area NDA which is a non-displayarea in FIGS. 1A and 1B. Auxiliary pixels Pa may be arranged in thesecond area DA2. Accordingly, when the second area DA2 partiallyoverlaps the peripheral area NDA which is a non-display area in FIGS. 1Aand 1B, it may indicate that a driving circuit portion is arranged underthe second area DA2, and a display element, for example, an organiclight-emitting diode OLED, of each of the auxiliary pixels Pa isarranged above the second area DA2. The organic light-emitting diodeOLED of each of the auxiliary pixels Pa may receive a signal and/or avoltage from a pixel circuit of a main pixel Pm arranged in an adjacentarea, for example, the first area DA1.

Referring to FIG. 3A, in the electronic apparatus 1′, the display areaDA may include first to fourth edges E1 to E4. According to some exampleembodiments, the first edge E1 and the third edge E3 may be arrangedsymmetrically with and parallel to each other. The peripheral area NDA,which is the non-display area, may be arranged outside the first edge E1and the third edge E3.

The second edge E2 and the fourth edge E4 may be arranged symmetricallywith and parallel to each other. When viewed from the front, the secondedge E2 and the fourth edge E4 may substantially match an edge of theelectronic apparatus 1′. That is, the display area DA of the electronicapparatus 1′ according to some example embodiments may be expanded asmuch as possible in one direction (e.g., the x-direction), and a fullscreen display may be implemented when viewed from the front.

According to some example embodiments, the second area DA2 may beprovided to surround at least three corners of the first area DA1 asshown in FIG. 3B. In this case, the peripheral area NDA may be arrangedonly outside the third edge E3. The first edge E1 may substantiallymatch the edge of the electronic apparatus 1′, similar to the secondedge E2 and the fourth edge E4.

FIG. 4 illustrates a display panel 10P included in the electronicapparatus 1′ of FIG. 3A or 3B.

Referring to FIG. 4 , the display panel 10P includes a substrate 100.Various elements constituting the display panel 10P are arranged on thesubstrate 100.

The display area DA may include a first area DA1 that displays a mainimage, and a second area DA2 that displays an auxiliary image. Mainpixels Pm may be arranged on the first area DA1, and auxiliary pixels Pamay be arranged on the second area DA2. Each of the main pixels Pmand/or the auxiliary pixels Pa includes at least one sub-pixel and maybe implemented by a display element such as an OLED. Each of the mainpixels Pm and/or the auxiliary pixels Pa may emit, for example, red,green, blue, or white light.

The first area DA1 may be surrounded by the second area DA2 or theperipheral area NDA. In FIG. 4 , the second area DA2 may be on left andright sides of the first area DA1, and the peripheral area NDA may beabove and under the first area DA1.

The main pixels Pm arranged in the first area DA1 may be electricallyconnected to outer circuits arranged in the peripheral area NDA, whichis the non-display area. A first scan driving circuit 11, a second scandriving circuit 12, an emission control driving circuit 13, a terminal14, and a first power supply wire 15 may be arranged in the peripheralarea NDA. Although not shown, a second power supply wire may be arrangedoutside the first and second scan driving circuits 11 and 12, and theemission control driving circuit 13.

The first scan driving circuit 11 may provide a scan signal to each ofthe main pixels Pm through a scan line SL. The second scan drivingcircuit 12 may be arranged parallel to the first scan driving circuit 11with the display area DA therebetween. Some of the main pixels Pmarranged in the display area DA may be electrically connected to thefirst scan driving circuit 11, and the others may be electricallyconnected to the second scan driving circuit 12. According to someexample embodiments, the second scan driving circuit 12 may be omitted.

The emission control driving circuit 13 may be arranged close to thefirst scan driving circuit 11 and may provide an emission control signalto each of the main pixels Pm through an emission control line EL.Although FIG. 4 illustrates that the emission control driving circuit 13is arranged only on one side of the display area DA, the emissioncontrol driving circuit 13 may be arranged on both sides of the displayarea DA, as in the first and second scan driving circuits 11 and 12.

The terminal 14 may be arranged in the peripheral area NDA of thesubstrate 100. The terminal 14 may be exposed by not being covered withan insulating layer, and thus may be electrically connected to a printedcircuit board PCB. A terminal PCB-P of the printed circuit board PCB maybe electrically connected to the terminal 14 of the display device 10.

The printed circuit board PCB may transmit a signal or power of acontroller to the display device 10. A control signal generated by thecontroller may be transmitted to the first and second scan drivingcircuits 11 and 12, and the emission control driving circuit 13 throughthe printed circuit board PCB. Also, the controller may provide adriving voltage ELVDD (see FIG. 9A or 9B) to the first power supply wire15 and provide a common voltage ELVSS (see FIG. 9A or 9B) to the secondpower supply wire. The driving voltage ELVDD may be provided to each ofthe main pixels Pm through a driving voltage line PL connected to thefirst power supply wire 15, and the common voltage ELVSS may be providedto an opposite electrode of a pixel connected to the second power supplywire. The first power supply wire 15 may extend in one direction (e.g.,the x-direction) from below the second area DA2. The second power supplywire has a loop shape with one side open, and may at least partiallyoverlap the second area DA2.

Also, according to some example embodiments, the controller generates adata signal, and the generated data signal may be transmitted to aninput line IL through a data pad portion 17, and transmitted to the mainpixel Pm and/or the auxiliary pixels Pa through a data line DL connectedto the input line IL.

The auxiliary pixels Pa on the second area DA2 may at least partiallyoverlap the first and second scan driving circuits 11 and 12, and theemission control driving circuit 13. The main pixels Pm on the firstarea DA1 each include a pixel circuit thereunder overlapping a firstdisplay element, but the auxiliary pixels Pa on the second area DA2 mayeach include the first and second scan driving circuits 11 and 12, andthe emission control driving circuit 13 arranged thereunder overlappinga second display element. Accordingly, each of the auxiliary pixels Pamay receive a signal and/or a voltage from a pixel circuit of a mainpixel Pm arranged in an area adjacent to the second area DA2, forexample, the first area DA1.

FIG. 5 is a schematic perspective view of an electronic apparatus 1″according to some example embodiments, and FIGS. 6A, 6B, and 6C areschematic cross-sectional views of an electronic apparatus 1″ accordingto some example embodiments. FIG. 6A illustrates a cross-section of theelectronic apparatus 1″ in a y-direction of FIG. 5 , FIG. 6B illustratesa cross-section of the electronic apparatus 1″ in an x-direction of FIG.5 , and FIG. 6C illustrates a cross-section of the electronic apparatus1″, in which corner display areas CDA are arranged on both sides of afront display area FDA.

Referring to FIGS. 5 and 6A through 6C, the electronic apparatus 1″ mayhave a long side in a first direction (e.g., the y-direction) and ashort side in a second direction (e.g., the x-direction). Here, thefirst direction and the second direction may cross each other.Hereinbelow, a case where the first direction and the second directioncross at a right angle will be mainly described, but according to someexample embodiments, the first direction and the second direction maycross at an acute angle or an obtuse angle. Also, according to someexample embodiments, the electronic apparatus 1″ may have a long side inthe second direction (e.g., the x-direction) and a short side in thefirst direction (e.g., the y-direction).

A corner at which the long side in the first direction (e.g., they-direction) meets the short side in the second direction (e.g., thex-direction) may be round to have a certain curvature.

The electronic apparatus 1″ may include a display device 10″. Thedisplay device 10″ may include a display panel 10P and a cover window700 for protecting an upper portion of the display panel 10P.

The cover window 700 may be a flexible window. The cover window 700 mayprotect the display panel 10P while being relatively easily bentaccording to an external force without cracking or the like. The coverwindow 700 may include glass, sapphire, or plastic. The cover window 700may include, for example, an ultra-thin glass (UTG), a colorlesspolyimide (CPI). According to some example embodiments, the cover window700 may have a structure in which a flexible polymer layer is arrangedon one surface of a glass substrate, or may include only a polymerlayer.

A stack structure of the display device 10″ may be substantially similarto a structure of an upper portion of the substrate 100 described abovewith reference to FIG. 2A.

The display device 10″ may include a display area DA that displays animage and a peripheral area NDA that surrounds the display area DA. Thedisplay area DA may include a plurality of pixels P1, P2, and P3, and animage may be displayed through the pixels P1, P2, and P3.

According to some example embodiments, the display area DA may include afront display area FDA, a side display area SDA, a corner display areaCDA, and an intermediate display area MDA. The front display area FDAand the side display area SDA may correspond to the first area DA1 thatdisplays a main image, and the corner display area CDA and theintermediate display area MDA may correspond to the second area DA2 thatdisplays an auxiliary image. Accordingly, in the specification, it maybe understood that first pixels P1 arranged on the front display areaFDA and the side display area SDA correspond to the main pixels Pm, andsecond pixels P2 and third pixels P3 on the corner display area CDA andthe intermediate display area MDA correspond to the auxiliary pixels Pa.

According to some example embodiments, the main pixels Pm on the firstarea DA1 and the auxiliary pixels Pa on the second area DA2 may havedifferent shapes or different types of arrangement relationships. Thiswill be described below in detail with reference to FIG. 11 .

The pixels P1, P2, and P3 arranged in each display area DA may displayan image. According to some example embodiments, each of the pixels P1,P2, and P3 in the front display area FDA, the side display area SDA, thecorner display area CDA, and the intermediate display area MDA mayprovide an independent image. According to some example embodiments,each of the pixels P1, P2, and P3 in the front display area FDA, theside display area SDA, the corner display area CDA, and the intermediatedisplay area MDA may provide a portion of an image.

The front display area FDA is a flat display area and may include afirst pixel P1 including a first display element. According to someexample embodiments, the front display area FDA may provide most of theimage.

A pixel including a display element may be arranged in the side displayarea SDA. Accordingly, the side display area SDA may display an image.According to some example embodiments, the side display area SDA mayinclude a first side display area SDA1, a second side display area SDA2,a third side display area SDA3, and a fourth side display area SDA4.According to some example embodiments, at least one of the first sidedisplay area SDA1, the second side display area SDA2, the third sidedisplay area SDA3, or the fourth side display area SDA4 may be omitted.

The first side display area SDA1 and the third side display area SDA3may be connected to the front display area FDA in the first direction(e.g., the y-direction or a −y direction).

The first side display area SDA1 and the third side display area SDA3each have a radius of curvature and may be bent. According to someexample embodiments, the radii of curvature of the first side displayarea SDA1 and the third side display area SDA3 may be different fromeach other. According to some example embodiments, the radii ofcurvature of the first side display area SDA1 and the third side displayarea SDA3 may be equal to each other. Hereinbelow, a case where thefirst side display area SDA1 and the third side display area SDA3 have asame radius of curvature as a first radius of curvature R1 will bedescribed in detail. Also, because the first side display area SDA1 andthe third side display area SDA3 are identical or similar to each other,the first side display area SDA1 will be mainly described in detail.

The second side display area SDA2 and the fourth side display area SDA4may be connected to the front display area FDA in the second direction(e.g., the x-direction or a −x direction).

The second side display area SDA2 and the fourth side display area SDA4each have a radius of curvature and may be bent. According to someexample embodiments, the radii of curvature of the second side displayarea SDA2 and the fourth side display area SDA4 may be different fromeach other. According to some example embodiments, the second sidedisplay area SDA2 and the fourth side display area SDA4 may be equal toeach other. Hereinbelow, a case where the second side display area SDA2and the fourth side display area SDA4 have a same radius of curvature asa second radius of curvature R2 will be described in detail. Also,because the second side display area SDA2 and the fourth side displayarea SDA4 are identical or similar to each other, the second sidedisplay area SDA2 will be mainly described in detail.

According to some example embodiments, the first radius of curvature R1of the first side display area SDA1 may be different from the secondradius of curvature R2 of the second side display area SDA2. Forexample, the first radius of curvature R1 may be less or greater thanthe second radius of curvature R2. According to some exampleembodiments, the first radius of curvature R1 of the first side displayarea SDA1 may be equal to the second radius of curvature R2 of thesecond side display area SDA2. Hereinbelow, a case where the firstradius of curvature R1 is greater than the second radius of curvature R2will be mainly described.

The corner display area CDA may be arranged at a corner of the frontdisplay area FDA and may be bent. That is, the corner display area CDAmay be arranged to correspond to a corner portion CP. Here, the cornerportion CP is a corner of the display area DA, and may be a portionwhere a long side of the display area DA in the first direction (e.g.,the y-direction) meets a short side of the display area DA in the seconddirection (e.g., the x-direction). Also, the corner display area CDA maybe between adjacent side display areas SDA. For example, the cornerdisplay area CDA may be between the first side display area SDA1 and thesecond side display area SDA2. Thus, the side display area SDA and thecorner display area CDA may surround the front display area FDA and maybe bent.

A second pixel P2 including a second display element may be arranged inthe corner display area CDA. The corner display area CDA may display animage through the second pixel P2.

According to some example embodiments, when the first radius ofcurvature R1 of the first side display area SDA1 and the second radiusof curvature R2 of the second side display area SDA2 are different fromeach other, a radius of curvature of the corner display area CDA may begradually changed. According to some example embodiments, when the firstradius of curvature R1 of the first side display area SDA1 is greaterthan the second radius of curvature R2 of the second side display areaSDA2, the radius of curvature of the corner display area CDA maygradually decrease in a direction from the first side display area SDA1to the second side display area SDA2. For example, a third radius ofcurvature R3 of the corner display area CDA may be less than the firstradius of curvature R1 and greater than the second radius of curvatureR2.

According to some example embodiments, the display area DA may furtherinclude an intermediate display area MDA. The intermediate display areaMDA may be between the corner display area CDA and the front displayarea FDA. A third pixel P3 may be arranged in the intermediate displayarea MDA.

Also, according to some example embodiments, a driving circuit forproviding an electrical signal or a power line for providing a voltagemay be arranged in the intermediate display area MDA, and the thirdpixel P3 may overlap the driving circuit or the power line. In thiscase, a third display element of the third pixel P3 may be arrangedabove the driving circuit or the power line. According to some exampleembodiments, the driving circuit or the power line may be arranged inthe peripheral area NDA, and the third pixel P3 may not overlap thedriving circuit or the power line.

According to some example embodiments, the electronic apparatus 1″ maydisplay an image not only in the front display area FDA, but also in theside display area SDA, the corner display area CDA, and the intermediatedisplay area MDA. Accordingly, the proportion occupied by the displayarea DA in the electronic apparatus 1″ may be increased. Also, theelectronic apparatus 1″ includes the corner display area CDA that isbent at a corner and displays an image, thereby improving theaesthetics.

FIG. 7 is a schematic plan view of a display panel 10P according to someexample embodiments. FIG. 7 schematically illustrates a shape of thedisplay panel 10P being unbent, as a shape of the display panel 10Pbefore a corner display area CDA is bent.

Referring to FIG. 7 , the display panel 10P may include a display areaDA and a peripheral area NDA. The display area DA is an area on which aplurality of pixels P1, P2, and P3 display an image, and the peripheralarea NDA is an area surrounding at least a portion of the display areaDA. The display area DA may include a front display area FDA, a sidedisplay area SDA, a corner display area CDA, and an intermediate displayarea MDA.

In the specification, a sub-pixel refers to an emission area as aminimum unit for implementing an image. When an OLED is used as adisplay element, the emission area may be defined by an opening of apixel-defining layer. This will be described below.

The peripheral area NDA is an area that does not provide an image, whichmay be a non-display area. A driving circuit DC for providing anelectrical signal to the pixels P, or a power line for providing powermay be arranged in the peripheral area NDA. The driving circuit DC thatprovides an electrical signal to each pixel P through a signal line maybe arranged in the peripheral area NDA. For example, the driving circuitDC may be a scan driving circuit that provides a scan signal to eachpixel P through a scan line SL. Alternatively, the driving circuit DCmay be a data driving circuit that provides a data signal to each pixelP through a data line DL. According to some example embodiments, thedata driving circuit may be arranged adjacent to one side of the displaypanel 10P. For example, the data driving circuit in the peripheral areaNDA may be arranged to correspond to the first side display area SDA1.

The peripheral area NDA may include a pad portion which is an area towhich an electronic element or a printed circuit board may beelectrically connected. The pad portion is exposed without being coveredby an insulating layer, and thus may be electrically connected aflexible printed circuit board (FPCB). The FPCB may electrically connectthe controller to the pad portion and supply a signal or powertransmitted from the controller. According to some example embodiments,the data driving circuit may be arranged on the FPCB.

A first pixel P1 including a display element may be arranged in thefront display area FDA. The front display area FDA may be a flatportion. According to some example embodiments, the front display areaFDA may provide most of the image.

A pixel including a display element may be arranged in the side displayarea SDA. The pixel of the side display area SDA may be provided in asame shape and a same arrangement relationship as those of the firstpixel P1 of the front display area FDA. According to some exampleembodiments, a width of the side display area SDA may gradually decreasein a direction away from the front display area FDA. As described above,the side display area SDA may include a first side display area SDA1, asecond side display area SDA2, a third side display area SDA3, and afourth side display area SDA4, which are respectively arranged on top,bottom, left, and right sides of the front display area FDA.

The corner display area CDA may be between adjacent side display areasSDA. Hereinbelow, a corner display area CDA between the first sidedisplay area SDA1 and the second side display area SDA2 will be mainlydescribed in detail.

The corner display area CDA may surround at least a portion of the frontdisplay area FDA. For example, the corner display areas CDA may bebetween the first side display area SDA1 and the second side displayarea SDA2, to surround at least a portion of the front display area FDA.

A second pixel P2 including a display element may be arranged in thecorner display area CDA, and the corner display area CDA may be bent.That is, as described with reference to FIG. 1 , the corner display areaCDA may be an area that is arranged to correspond to the corner portionCP and bent from the front display area FDA.

The intermediate display area MDA may be between the front display areaFDA and the corner display area CDA. A third pixel P3 including adisplay element may be arranged in the intermediate display area MDA.Also, according to some example embodiments, a driving circuit DC forproviding an electrical signal or a power line for providing a voltagemay also be arranged in the intermediate display area MDA. According tosome example embodiments, the driving circuit DC may pass through theintermediate display area MDA and be arranged along the peripheral areaNDA. In this case, the third pixel P3 arranged in the intermediatedisplay area MDA may overlap the driving circuit DC or the power line.According to some example embodiments, the third pixel P3 may notoverlap the driving circuit DC or the power line. In this case, thedriving circuit DC may be arranged along the peripheral area NDA.

At least one of the side display area SDA, the corner display area CDA,and the intermediate display area MDA may be bent. In this case, thefirst side display area SDA1 of the side display area SDA may be bentwith a first radius of curvature, and the second side display area SDA2of the side display area SDA may be bent with a second radius ofcurvature. In this case, when the first radius of curvature is greaterthan the second radius of curvature, a radius of curvature at which thecorner display area CDA is bent may gradually decrease in a directionfrom the first side display area SDA1 to the second side display areaSDA2.

When the corner display area CDA is bent, a greater compressive strainmay occur in the corner display area CDA, compared to a tensile strain.In this case, a shrinkable substrate and a structure of a multi-layerneed to be applied to the corner display area CDA. Accordingly, a stackstructure of a multi-layer or a shape of a substrate 100 arranged in thecorner display area CDA may be different from a stack structure of amulti-layer or a shape of a substrate 100 arranged in the front displayarea FDA.

FIG. 8 is an enlarged view of a portion of a display panel 10P accordingto some example embodiments.

Referring to FIG. 8 , the display panel 10P may include a display areaDA and a peripheral area NDA, and the display area DA may include afront display area FDA, side display areas SDA1 and SDA2, a cornerdisplay area CDA, and an intermediate display area MDA.

A first pixel P1 may be arranged in the front display area FDA, a secondpixel P2 may be arranged in the corner display area CDA, and a thirdpixel P3 may be arranged in the intermediate display area MDA.

The corner display areas CDA may include a plurality of extension areasLA extending from the intermediate display area MDA. In this case, theextension areas LA may extend in a direction away from the front displayarea FDA. Second pixels P2 may be arranged in each of the extensionareas LA. According to some example embodiments, the second pixels P2may be arranged in a line along a direction in which the extension areasLA extend. According to some example embodiments, the second pixels P2may be arranged in a plurality of lines along the direction in which theextension areas LA extend. Hereinbelow, a case where the second pixelsP2 are arranged in a line along the direction in which the extensionareas LA extend will be mainly described in detail.

A through portion PP may be between a plurality of adjacent extensionareas LA. Accordingly, an empty space may be defined between theadjacent extension areas LA.

According to some example embodiments, a width of the through portion PPmay gradually increase from the intermediate display area MDA towardends of the extension areas LA. That is, the width of the throughportion PP may increase in a direction away from the front display areaFDA. For example, the extension areas LA may be radially arranged. Inthis case, the width of the through portion PP may indicate a distancebetween the adjacent extension areas LA. For example, a first width dis1of the through portion PP at the ends of the extension areas LA may begreater than a second width dis2 of the through portion PP at a middlepoint between the ends of the extension areas LA and the intermediatedisplay area MDA.

According to some example embodiments, the width of the through portionPP may be uniform along the direction in which the extension areas LAextend, from the intermediate display area MDA. In this case, theextension areas LA may extend in a same direction from the intermediatedisplay area MDA.

According to some example embodiments, the extension areas LA may beconnected to the peripheral area NDA. In this case, the extension areasLA may be fixed by the peripheral area NDA.

FIGS. 9A and 9B are equivalent circuit diagrams of pixels Pm and Pa thatmay be included in a display device according to some exampleembodiments.

Referring to FIGS. 9A and 9B, each of the pixels Pm and Pa includes apixel circuit PC connected to a scan line SL and a data line DL, and anorganic light-emitting diode OLED that is a display element connected tothe pixel circuit PC. According to some example embodiments, the pixelsPm and Pa may include a pixel circuit PC of FIG. 9A or may include apixel circuit PC of FIG. 9B. For example, a main pixel Pm may includethe pixel circuit PC of FIG. 9B, and an auxiliary pixel Pa may includethe pixel circuit PC of FIG. 9A. As another example, both the main pixelPm and the auxiliary pixel Pa may include the pixel circuit PC of FIG.9B.

The pixel circuit PC of FIG. 9A includes a driving thin-film transistorTd, a switching thin-film transistor Ts, and a storage capacitor Cst.The switching thin-film transistor Ts is connected to the scan line SLand the data line DL and transmits a data signal Dm to the drivingthin-film transistor Td in response to a scan signal Sn input throughthe scan line SL, the data signal Dm being input through the data lineDL.

The storage capacitor Cst is connected to the switching thin-filmtransistor Ts and a driving voltage line PL, and stores a voltagecorresponding to a difference between a voltage received from theswitching thin-film transistor Ts and a driving voltage ELVDD suppliedto the driving voltage line PL.

The driving thin-film transistor Td is connected to the driving voltageline PL and the storage capacitor Cst and may control a driving currentflowing through the organic light-emitting diode OLED from the drivingvoltage line PL in response to the voltage stored in the storagecapacitor Cst. The organic light-emitting diode OLED may emit lighthaving a certain luminance according to a driving current Id.

Although it is shown in FIG. 9A that the pixel circuit PC includes twothin-film transistors and one storage capacitor, the embodiments are notlimited thereto. According to some example embodiments, the pixelcircuit PC may include seven thin-film transistors and one storagecapacitor as shown in FIG. 9B which will be described below. Accordingto some example embodiments, the pixel circuit PC may include two ormore storage capacitors.

Referring to FIG. 9B, the pixel circuit PC may include a drivingthin-film transistor T1, a switching thin-film transistor T2, acompensation thin-film transistor T3, a first initialization thin-filmtransistor T4, an operation control thin-film transistor T5, an emissioncontrol thin-film transistor T6, and a second initialization thin-filmtransistor T7.

Though it is shown in FIG. 9B that each pixel circuit PC includes signallines SL, SL−1, SL+1, EL, and DL, an initialization voltage line VL, anda driving voltage line PL, the embodiments are not limited thereto.According to some example embodiments, at least one of the signal linesSL, SL−1, SL+1, EL, or DL, and/or the initialization voltage line VL maybe shared by adjacent pixel circuits PC.

A drain electrode of the driving thin-film transistor T1 may beelectrically connected to the organic light-emitting diode OLED throughthe emission control thin-film transistor T6. The driving thin-filmtransistor T1 receives a data signal Dm depending on a switchingoperation of the switching thin-film transistor T2 and supplies adriving current to the organic light-emitting diode OLED.

A gate electrode of the switching thin-film transistor T2 is connectedto the scan line SL, and a source electrode of the switching thin-filmtransistor T2 is connected to the data line DL. A drain electrode of theswitching thin-film transistor T2 may be connected to a source electrodeof the driving thin-film transistor T1 and connected to the drivingvoltage line PL through the operation control thin-film transistor T5.

The switching thin-film transistor T2 is turned on according to the scansignal Sn received through the scan line SL and performs a switchingoperation of transmitting the data signal Dm received through the dataline DL to the source electrode of the driving thin-film transistor T1.

A gate electrode of the compensation thin-film transistor T3 may beconnected to the scan line SL. A source electrode of the compensationthin-film transistor T3 may be connected to the drain electrode of thedriving thin-film transistor T1 and connected to a pixel electrode ofthe organic light-emitting diode OLED through the emission controlthin-film transistor T6. A drain electrode of the compensation thin-filmtransistor T3 may be connected to any one electrode of the storagecapacitor Cst, a source electrode of the first initialization thin-filmtransistor T4, and a gate electrode of the driving thin-film transistorT1. The compensation thin-film transistor T3 is turned on according tothe scan signal Sn received through the scan line SL and connects thegate electrode and the drain electrode of the driving thin-filmtransistor T1 to each other, so as to cause the driving thin-filmtransistor T1 to be diode-connected.

A gate electrode of the first initialization thin-film transistor T4 maybe connected to a previous scan line SL−1. A drain electrode of thefirst initialization thin-film transistor T4 may be connected to theinitialization voltage line VL. A source electrode of the firstinitialization thin-film transistor T4 may be connected to any oneelectrode of the storage capacitor Cst, the drain electrode of thecompensation thin-film transistor T3, and the gate electrode of thedriving thin-film transistor T1. The first initialization thin-filmtransistor T4 may be turned on according to a previous scan signal Sn−1received through the previous scan line SL−1, and may transmit aninitialization voltage Vint to the gate electrode of the drivingthin-film transistor T1, so as to perform an initialization operation ofinitializing a voltage of the gate electrode of the driving thin-filmtransistor T1.

A gate electrode of the operation control thin-film transistor T5 may beconnected to the emission control line EL. A source electrode of theoperation control thin-film transistor T5 may be connected to thedriving voltage line PL. A drain electrode of the operation controlthin-film transistor T5 is connected to the source electrode of thedriving thin-film transistor T1 and the drain electrode of the switchingthin-film transistor T2.

A gate electrode of the emission control thin-film transistor T6 may beconnected to the emission control line EL. A source electrode of theemission control thin-film transistor T6 may be connected to the drainelectrode of the driving thin-film transistor T1 and the sourceelectrode of the compensation thin-film transistor T3. A drain electrodeof the emission control thin-film transistor T6 may be electricallyconnected to the pixel electrode of the organic light-emitting diodeOLED. The operation control thin-film transistor T5 and the emissioncontrol thin-film transistor T6 are simultaneously (or concurrently)turned on in response to an emission control signal En received throughthe emission control line EL, the driving voltage ELVDD is transmittedto the organic light-emitting diode OLED, and the driving current flowsthrough the main organic light-emitting diode OLED.

A gate electrode of the second initialization thin-film transistor T7may be connected to a subsequent scan line SL+1. A source electrode ofthe second initialization thin-film transistor T7 may be connected tothe pixel electrode of the organic light-emitting diode OLED. A drainelectrode of the second initialization thin-film transistor T7 may beconnected to the initialization voltage line VL. The secondinitialization thin-film transistor T7 may be turned on according to asubsequent scan signal Sn+1 received through the subsequent scan lineSL+1 and initialize the pixel electrode of the organic light-emittingdiode OLED.

Although it is shown in FIG. 9B that the first initialization thin-filmtransistor T4 and the second initialization thin-film transistor T7 areconnected to the previous scan line SL−1 and the subsequent scan lineSL+1, respectively, the embodiments are not limited thereto. Accordingto some example embodiments, the first initialization thin-filmtransistor T4 and the second initialization thin-film transistor T7 maybe all connected to the previous scan line SL−1 and may be drivenaccording to a previous scan signal Sn−1.

The other electrode of the storage capacitor Cst may be connected to thedriving voltage line PL. Any electrode of the storage capacitor Cst maybe connected to the gate electrode of the driving thin-film transistorT1, the drain electrode of the compensation thin-film transistor T3, andthe source electrode of the first initialization thin-film transistorT4.

An opposite electrode (e.g., a cathode electrode) of the organiclight-emitting diode OLED receives a common voltage ELVSS. The organiclight-emitting diode OLED receives a driving current from the drivingthin-film transistor T1 to emit light.

The pixel circuit PC is not limited to the number of thin-filmtransistors, the number of storage capacitors, and the circuit designsall described above with reference to FIGS. 9A and 9B. The number ofthin-film transistors, the number of storage capacitors, and the circuitdesigns may vary.

FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of a portion of a display panel of adisplay device according to some example embodiments. FIG. 10illustrates a portion of the display panel, in which a substrate 100, adisplay layer 200, and an encapsulation member may be included.According to some example embodiments, FIG. 10 illustrates a thin-filmencapsulation layer 300A as the encapsulation member.

Referring to FIG. 10 , the substrate 100 may have a multi-layeredstructure. The substrate 100 may include glass, a metal, or a polymerresin. According to some example embodiments, when the substrate 100needs to be flexible or bendable, the substrate 100 may include apolymer resin such as polyethersulfone, polyacrylate, polyetherimide,polyethylene naphthalate, polyethylene terephthalate, polyphenylenesulfide, polyarylate, polyimide, polycarbonate, or cellulose acetatepropionate. The substrate 100 may have a multi-layered structureincluding two layers each containing such a polymer resin and a barrierlayer containing an inorganic material (such as silicon oxide, siliconnitride, silicon oxynitride, etc.) between the two layers. Variousmodifications may be made.

A buffer layer 111 may reduce or block the penetration of foreignmaterials, moisture, or ambient air from a lower portion of thesubstrate 100 and may provide a flat surface on the substrate 100. Thebuffer layer 111 may include an inorganic insulating material such assilicon oxide, silicon oxynitride, or silicon nitride, and may have asingle-layered or multi-layered structure including the aforementionedmaterial.

In some cases, a bottom metal layer BML may be between the substrate 100and the buffer layer 111. The bottom metal layer BML may include aconductive metal, such as aluminum (Al), platinum (Pt), palladium (Pd),silver (Ag), magnesium (Mg), gold (Au), nickel (Ni), neodymium (Nd),iridium (Ir), chromium (Cr), lithium (Li), calcium (Ca), molybdenum(Mo), titanium (Ti), tungsten (W), and/or copper (Cu).

The bottom metal layer BML may be electrically connected to a conductiveline CL. The conductive line CL may be electrically connected to a gateelectrode, a source electrode, or a drain electrode of a thin-filmtransistor TFT to be described below, or may be electrically connectedto one of capacitor plates of a storage capacitor Cst to be describedbelow. Alternatively, the conductive line CL may be electricallyconnected to the driving voltage line PL (see FIG. 4 ). The bottom metallayer BML may be electrically connected to the gate electrode, thesource electrode, or the drain electrode of the thin-film transistor TFTby the conductive line CL, may be electrically connected to one of thecapacitor plates of the storage capacitor Cst, or may be electricallyconnected to the driving voltage line PL (see FIG. 4 ). The bottom metallayer BML connected to the conductive line CL may protect the thin-filmtransistor TFT from external static electricity or relatively improvethe performance of the thin-film transistor TFT.

A pixel circuit PC including the thin-film transistor TFT and thestorage capacitor Cst may be arranged on the buffer layer 111. Thethin-film transistor TFT may include a semiconductor layer A, a gateelectrode G overlapping a channel region of the semiconductor layer A,and a source electrode S and a drain electrode D respectively connectedto a source region and a drain region of the semiconductor layer A. Agate insulating layer 112 may be between the semiconductor layer A andthe gate electrode G, and a first interlayer insulating layer 113 and asecond interlayer insulating layer 115 may be arranged between the gateelectrode G and the source electrode S or between the gate electrode Gand the drain electrode D.

The storage capacitor Cst may overlap the thin-film transistor TFT. Thestorage capacitor Cst may include a first capacitor plate CE1 and asecond capacitor plate CE2 which overlap each other. According to someexample embodiments, the gate electrode G of the thin-film transistorTFT may include the first capacitor plate CE1 of the storage capacitorCst. The first interlayer insulating layer 113 may be between the firstcapacitor plate CE1 and the second capacitor plate CE2.

The semiconductor layer A may include polycrystalline silicon. In someembodiments, the semiconductor layer A may include amorphous silicon. Insome embodiments, the semiconductor layer A may include an oxide of atleast one material selected from the group consisting of indium (In),gallium (Ga), stannium (Sn), zirconium (Zr), vanadium (V), hafnium (Hf),cadmium (Cd), germanium (Ge), Cr, Ti, and zinc (Zn). The semiconductorlayer A may include a channel region, and a source region and a drainregion doped with impurities.

The gate insulating layer 112 may include an inorganic insulatingmaterial such as silicon oxide, silicon oxynitride, or silicon nitride,and may have a single-layered or multi-layered structure including theaforementioned material.

The gate electrode G or the first capacitor plate CE1 may include alow-resistance conductive material such as Mo, Al, Cu, and/or Ti, andmay have a single-layered or multi-layered structure including theaforementioned material.

The first interlayer insulating layer 113 may include an inorganicinsulating material such as silicon oxide, silicon oxynitride, andsilicon nitride, and may have a single-layered or multi-layeredstructure including the aforementioned material.

The second capacitor plate CE2 may include Al, Pt, Pd, Ag, Mg, Au, Ni,Nd, Ir, Cr, Li, Ca, Mo, Ti, W, and/or Cu, and may have a single-layeredor multi-layered structure including the aforementioned material.

The second interlayer insulating layer 115 may include an inorganicinsulating material such as silicon oxide, silicon oxynitride, andsilicon nitride, and may have a single-layered or multi-layeredstructure including the aforementioned material.

The source electrode S or the drain electrode D may include Al, Pt, Pd,Ag, Mg, Au, Ni, Nd, Ir, Cr, Ni, Ca, Mo, Ti, W, and/or Cu, and may have asingle-layered or multi-layered structure including the aforementionedmaterial. For example, the source electrode S or the drain electrode Dmay have a three-layered structure of a titanium layer/aluminumlayer/titanium layer.

A planarization insulating layer 117 may include at least one inorganicinsulating layer arranged thereunder, for example, a different materialfrom the gate insulating layer 112, the first interlayer insulatinglayer 113, and the second interlayer insulating layer 115. Theplanarization insulating layer 117 may include an organic insulatingmaterial such as acryl, benzocyclobutene (BCB), polyimide, orhexamethyldisiloxane (HMDSO).

The pixel electrode 221 may be formed on the planarization insulatinglayer 117. The pixel electrode 221 may be electrically connected to thethin-film transistor TFT through a contact hole formed in theplanarization insulating layer 117.

The pixel electrode 221 may include a reflective layer including Ag, Mg,Al, Pt, Pd, Au, Ni, Nd, Ir, Cr, or a compound thereof. The pixelelectrode 221 may include a reflective layer including theaforementioned material, and a transparent conductive layer arrangedabove and/or under the reflective layer. The transparent conductivelayer may include indium tin oxide (ITO), indium zinc oxide (IZO), zincoxide (ZnO), indium oxide (In₂O₃), indium gallium oxide (IGO), oraluminum zinc oxide (AZO). According to some example embodiments, thepixel electrode 221 may have a three-layered structure of an ITOlayer/Ag layer/ITO layer which are sequentially stacked.

A pixel-defining layer 119 may include a through hole 119TH that coversan edge of the pixel electrode 221 and exposes a center of the pixelelectrode 221. The pixel-defining layer 119 may include an organicinsulating material such as BCB, polyimide, or HMDSO. The through hole119TH of the pixel-defining layer 119 may define an emission area EA,and red, green, or blue light may be emitted through the emission areaEA. The area or width of the emission area EA may define the area orwidth of a pixel.

A spacer 121 may be formed on the pixel-defining layer 119. The spacer121 may prevent or reduce instances of layers under the spacer 121 beingdamaged due to a mask in a process of forming an intermediate layer 222to be described below. According to some example embodiments, the spacer121 may include a same material as or a different material from thepixel-defining layer 119. For example, when the spacer 121 includes thesame material as the pixel-defining layer 119, the spacer 121 and thepixel-defining layer 119 may be formed as one body through a half-tonemask.

The intermediate layer 222 includes an emission layer 222 b overlappingthe pixel electrode 221. The emission layer 222 b may include an organicmaterial. The emission layer 222 b may include a polymer organicmaterial or low molecular weight organic material emitting light havinga certain color. As described above, the emission layer 222 b may beformed through a deposition process using a mask.

A first functional layer 222 a and a second functional layer 222 c maybe arranged under and/or on the emission layer 222 b, respectively.

The first functional layer 222 a may include a single layer or amulti-layer. For example, when the first functional layer 222 a includesa polymer material, the first functional layer 222 a may include a holetransport layer (HTL), which has a single-layered structure, and includepoly-(3,4)-ethylene-dihydroxy thiophene (PEDOT) or polyaniline (PAN).When the first functional layer 222 a includes a low molecular weightmaterial, the first functional layer 222 a may include a hole injectionlayer (HIL) and an HTL.

The second functional layer 222 c may be optionally provided. Forexample, when the first functional layer 222 a and the emission layer222 b include a polymer material, the second functional layer 222 c maybe formed. The second functional layer 222 c may include a single layeror a multi-layer. The second functional layer 222 c may include anelectron transport layer (ETL) and/or an electron injection layer (EIL).

The first functional layer 222 a and the second functional layer 222 cmay be formed as one body to entirely cover a display area. As shown inFIG. 10 , the first functional layer 222 a and the second functionallayer 222 c may be formed as one body over the display area.

An opposite electrode 223 may include a conductive material having arelatively low work function. For example, the opposite electrode 223may include a (semi-)transparent layer including Ag, Mg, Al, Ni, Cr, Li,Ca, or an alloy thereof. Alternatively, the opposite electrode 223 mayfurther include a layer such as ITO, IZO, ZnO, or In2O3 on the(semi-)transparent layer including the aforementioned material.According to some example embodiments, the opposite electrode 223 mayinclude Ag and Mg.

A stack structure of the pixel electrode 221, the intermediate layer222, and the opposite electrode 223, which are sequentially stacked, mayform a light-emitting diode, for example, an organic light-emittingdiode OLED. The display layer 200 including the pixel circuit PC, theinsulating layers, and the organic light-emitting diode OLED may becovered with the thin-film encapsulation layer 300A.

The thin-film encapsulation layer 300A may include a first inorganicencapsulation layer 310, a second inorganic encapsulation layer 330, andan organic encapsulation layer 320 therebetween.

The first and second inorganic encapsulation layers 310 and 330 each mayinclude one or more inorganic insulating materials. The inorganicinsulating materials may include aluminum oxide, titanium oxide,tantalum oxide, hafnium oxide, zinc oxide, silicon oxide, siliconnitride, and/or silicon oxynitride. The first and second inorganicencapsulation layers 310 and 330 may be formed by using a chemical vapordeposition method.

The organic encapsulation layer 320 may include a polymer-basedmaterial. The polymer-based material may include an acrylic resin, anepoxy resin, polyimide, and polyethylene. For example, the organicencapsulation layer 320 may include an acrylic resin, for example,polymethyl methacrylate, polyacrylic acid, etc. The organicencapsulation layer 320 may be formed by curing a monomer or applying apolymer.

FIGS. 11 and 12 are schematic plan views of a portion of a display areaDA according to some example embodiments.

Referring to FIG. 11 , the display area DA includes a first area DA1 anda second area DA2 that are arranged so that at least portions thereofare in contact with each other. An image may be provided in the firstarea DA1 and the second area DA2 through an array of a plurality ofpixels Pm and Pa that are arranged two-dimensionally. Main pixels Pm maybe arranged on the first area DA1, and auxiliary pixels Pa may bearranged on the second area DA2. The main pixels Pm may provide a mainimage, and the auxiliary pixels Pa may provide an auxiliary image.

Each of the main pixels Pm may include a red main pixel Pmr, a greenmain pixel Pmg, and a blue main pixel Pmb. According to some exampleembodiments, as shown in FIG. 11 , the red main pixel Pmr, the greenmain pixel Pmg, and the blue main pixel Pmb may be arranged in a pentiletype. According to some example embodiments, the red main pixel Pmr, thegreen main pixel Pmg, and the blue main pixel Pmb may also be arrangedin a stripe type.

The red main pixel Pmr, the green main pixel Pmg, and the blue mainpixel Pmb may have different sizes (or widths). For example, the redmain pixel Pmr and the blue main pixel Pmb may be greater than the greenmain pixel Pmg. In this case, when the red main pixel Pmr and the bluemain pixel Pmb are greater than the green main pixel Pmg, it mayindicate that an emission area Pmr-E of the red main pixel Pmr and anemission area Pmb-E of the blue main pixel Pmb are greater than anemission area Pmg-E of the green main pixel Pmg.

Each of the auxiliary pixels Pa may include a red auxiliary pixel Par, agreen auxiliary pixel Pag, and a blue auxiliary pixel Pab. According tosome example embodiments, as shown in FIG. 11 , the red auxiliary pixelPar, the green auxiliary pixel Pag, and the blue auxiliary pixel Pab maybe arranged in a pentile type. According to some example embodiments, asshown in FIG. 12 , the red auxiliary pixel Par, the green auxiliarypixel Pag, and the blue auxiliary pixel Pab may also be arranged in astripe type.

The red auxiliary pixel Par, the green auxiliary pixel Pag, and the blueauxiliary pixel Pab may have different sizes (or widths). For example,the red auxiliary pixel Par and the blue auxiliary pixel Pab may begreater than the green auxiliary pixel Pag. In this case, when the redauxiliary pixel Par and the blue auxiliary pixel Pab are greater thanthe green auxiliary pixel Pag, it may indicate that an emission areaPar-E of the red auxiliary pixel Par and an emission area Pab-E of theblue auxiliary pixel Pab are greater than an emission area Pag-E of thegreen auxiliary pixel Pag.

According to some example embodiments, a first main pixel Pm1 emittinglight of a first color, a second main pixel Pm2 emitting light of asecond color, a third main pixel Pm3 emitting light of a third color maybe arranged on the first area DA1, and a first auxiliary pixel Pa1emitting light of a first color, a second auxiliary pixel Pa2 emittinglight of a second color, and a third auxiliary pixel Pa3 emitting lightof a third color may be arranged on the second area DA2. According tosome example embodiments, the first color may be green, and the secondcolor and the third color may be blue or red.

In more detail, the first main pixel Pm1 and the first auxiliary pixelPal may be pixels emitting a same color and may respectively correspondto, for example, the green main pixel Pmg and the green auxiliary pixelPag, which are described above. Also, the second main pixel Pm2 and thesecond auxiliary pixel Pa2 may be pixels emitting a same color and mayrespectively correspond to, for example, the red main pixel Pmr and thered auxiliary pixel Par, which are described above. Moreover, the thirdmain pixel Pm3 and the third auxiliary pixel Pa3 may be pixels emittinga same color and may respectively correspond to, for example, the bluemain pixel Pmb and the blue auxiliary pixel Pab, which are describedabove.

According to some example embodiments, the first main pixel Pm1 and thefirst auxiliary pixel Pa1, the second main pixel Pm2 and the secondauxiliary pixel Pa2, and the third main pixel Pm3 and the thirdauxiliary pixel Pa3 may be pixels closest to each other at a boundarybetween the first area DA1 and the second area DA2.

According to some example embodiments, a first virtual line L1 passingthrough a center of an emission area of the first main pixel Pm1 and acenter of an emission area of the first auxiliary pixel Pal may beparallel to a first direction (e.g., an x-direction). That is, the firstmain pixel Pm1 and the first auxiliary pixel Pal may be arrangedparallel to each other on a same line. As described above, the firstmain pixel Pm1 and the first auxiliary pixel Pal may be pixels emittinggreen light. The pixels emitting green light have an emission area perpixel less than that of pixels emitting red or blue light, but arebetter recognized from the outside. That is, in order to improvevisibility for high-quality images in the display area DA, thearrangement of the pixels emitting green light at the boundary betweenthe first area DA1 and the second area DA2 serve as an important factor.

Therefore, in the display device according to some example embodiments,the first main pixel Pm1 and the first auxiliary pixel Pal, which emitgreen light, in the first area DA1 and the second area DA2 may bearranged parallel to each other on a same line. Through this, the firstmain pixel Pm1 and the first auxiliary pixel Pal are consecutivelyarranged at substantially equal intervals, thereby improving visibilityof the boundary between the first area DA1 and the second area DA2.

According to some example embodiments, a second virtual line L2 passingthrough a center of an emission area of the second main pixel Pm2 and acenter of an emission area of the second auxiliary pixel Pa2 may crossthe first direction (e.g., the x-direction). That is, the first virtualline L1 and the second virtual line L2 are not arranged parallel to eachother. An angle between the second virtual line L2 and the first virtualline L1 may be greater than 0° and less than 90°, and may be, forexample, 45° or less.

Similarly, a third virtual line L3 passing through a center of anemission area of the third main pixel Pm3 and a center of an emissionarea of the third auxiliary pixel Pa3 may cross the first direction(e.g., the x-direction). That is, the third virtual line L3 crosses thefirst virtual line L1 and the second virtual line L2 at the same time,but may not be parallel thereto. An angle between the third virtual lineL3 and the first virtual line L1 may be greater than 0° and less than90°, and may be, for example, 45° or less.

Also, the third virtual line L3 and the second virtual line L2 may crosseach other, and an angle between the third virtual line L3 and thesecond virtual line L2 may be greater than the angle between the thirdvirtual line L3 and the first virtual line L1 and the angle between thesecond virtual line L2 and the first virtual line L1.

When assuming a fourth virtual line L4 parallel to the first direction(e.g., the x-direction) on the first area DA1, the second main pixel Pm2and the third main pixel Pm3 may be alternately arranged on the fourthvirtual line L4. The fourth virtual line L4 may pass through the centersof the emission areas of the second main pixel Pm2 and the third mainpixel Pm3. According to some example embodiments, the second auxiliarypixel Pa2 or the third auxiliary pixel Pa3 may not be arranged on thefourth virtual line L4. This may indicate that the second auxiliarypixel Pa2 or the third auxiliary pixel Pa3 is not arranged on a sameline as the second main pixel Pm2 and the third main pixel Pm3 that arearranged on the first area DA1.

According to some example embodiments, an angle 82 between a second mainpixel Pm2 and a second auxiliary pixel Pa2 that are arranged closest toeach other at the boundary between the first area DA1 and the secondarea DA2 may be greater than 0° and less than 90°, and for example, 45°or less, with respect to the first virtual line L1. Similarly, an angle83 between a third main pixel Pm3 and a third auxiliary pixel Pa3 thatare arranged closest to each other at the boundary between the firstarea DA1 and the second area DA2 may be greater than 0° and less than90°, and for example, 45° or less, with respect to the first virtualline L1.

In a similar point of view, a fifth virtual line L5 passing through thecenter of the emission area of the second auxiliary pixel Pa2 and thecenter of the emission area of the third auxiliary pixel Pa3 may bespaced apart from and arranged parallel to the fourth virtual line L4.

As described above, the second main pixel Pm2 and the second auxiliarypixel Pa2 may be pixels emitting red light, and the third main pixel Pm3and the third auxiliary pixel Pa3 may be pixels emitting blue light. Thepixels emitting red or blue light may have relatively low externalvisibility compared to pixels emitting green light. Therefore, eventhough the second main pixel Pm2 and the second auxiliary pixel Pa2, andthe third main pixel Pm3 and the third auxiliary pixel Pa3, which emitred or blue light, are not arranged on a same line, the first main pixelPm1 and the first auxiliary pixel Pal, which emit green light, areconsecutively arranged on a same line as described above, therebyreducing or minimizing visibility of the boundary between the first areaDA1 and the second area DA2.

Referring to FIG. 12 , at the boundary between the first area DA1 andthe second area DA2, a shortest distance d1 between the first main pixelPm1 and the first auxiliary pixel Pa1 may be less than a shortestdistance d2 between the second main pixel Pm2 and the second auxiliarypixel Pa2 and a shortest distance d3 between the third main pixel Pm3and the third auxiliary pixel Pa3.

According to some example embodiments, a shortest distance ds1 betweenthe first auxiliary pixel Pa1 and the first area DA1 may be less than ashortest distance ds2 between the second auxiliary pixel Pa2 (or thethird auxiliary pixel Pa3) and the first area DA1. That is, the firstauxiliary pixel Pa1 may be arranged relatively closer to the first areaDA1 than the second auxiliary pixel Pa2 and the third auxiliary pixelPa3. The emission area of the first auxiliary pixel Pa1 emitting greenlight may be provided less than the emission areas of the secondauxiliary pixel Pa2 and the third auxiliary pixel Pa3 emitting red orblue light. Accordingly, when the first auxiliary pixel Pa1 is arrangedadjacent to the first area DA1, it may indicate that a pixel that issmallest in size is arranged adjacent to the first area DA1.

As shown in FIG. 12 , in pixels emitting light of a same color, sizes ofthe auxiliary pixels Pa may be greater than sizes of the main pixels Pm.That is, sizes of the main pixels Pm in the first area DA1 that isprovided as a main display area may be less than sizes of the auxiliarypixels Pa in the second area DA2 that is provided as an auxiliarydisplay area. This is because the first area DA1 needs to display a mainimage, and thus needs to have a higher resolution, whereas the secondarea DA2 has a pixel structure (e.g., a pixel circuit structure)different from that of the first area DA1, and thus is difficult to havea same level of resolution as the first area DA1. Therefore, the sizesof the auxiliary pixels Pa may be provided greater than the sizes of themain pixels Pm. When the sizes of the auxiliary pixels Pa are greaterthan the sizes of the main pixels Pm, it may indicate that the area ofan emission area of the auxiliary pixels Pa is greater than the area ofan emission area of the main pixels Pm.

As described above, because the pixels emitting green light haverelatively higher visibility than the pixels emitting red or blue light,a first auxiliary pixel Pa1 that is smallest in size among the auxiliarypixels Pa is arranged closer to the first area DA1, thereby reducing orminimizing visibility of the boundary between the first area DA1 and thesecond area DA2.

In the same context as described above, referring to the boundarybetween the first area DA1 and the second area DA2, the first mainpixels Pm1 may be arranged on the first area DA1 along a first column C1in a second direction (e.g., a y-direction). The second main pixels Pm2and the third main pixels Pm3 may be alternately arranged along a secondcolumn C2 that is spaced apart from the first column C1. Also, the firstauxiliary pixels Pal may be arranged on the second area DA2 along athird column C3 in the second direction (e.g., the y-direction). Thesecond auxiliary pixels Pa2 and the third auxiliary pixels Pa3 may bealternately arranged along a fourth column C4 that is spaced apart fromthe third column C3.

That is, sizes of the pixels Pm and Pa sequentially arranged along thefirst to fourth columns C1 to C4 at the boundary between the first areaDA1 and the second area DA2 may gradually increase. Through this, bymaking the pixels Pm and Pa at the boundary between the first area DA1and the second area DA2 smoothly connected to each other, the visibilityof the boundary may be reduced or minimized.

FIGS. 13 and 14 are schematic plan views of a portion of a display areaaccording to some example embodiments. FIGS. 13 and 14 may be portionsof the display device 10″ of FIGS. 5 to 8 described above.

Referring to FIGS. 13 and 14 , the display area DA may include a firstarea DA1 that displays a main image and a second area DA2 that displaysan auxiliary image. As described above with reference to FIGS. 7 and 8 ,the first area DA1 may correspond to the front display area FDA and theside display area SDA, and the second area DA2 may correspond to thecorner display area CDA and the intermediate display area MDA. In FIGS.13 and 14 , an area connected to the front display area FDA, theintermediate display area MDA, and the corner display area CDA is shown.

As described above, the main pixels Pm may be arranged in the first areaDA1, and the auxiliary pixels Pa may be arranged in the second area DA2.The main pixels Pm may provide a main image, and the auxiliary pixels Pamay provide an auxiliary image. The main pixels Pm may include red mainpixels Pmr, green main pixels Pmg, and blue main pixels Pmb, and theauxiliary pixels Pa may include red auxiliary pixels Par, greenauxiliary pixels Pag, and blue auxiliary pixels Pab.

According to some example embodiments, the main pixels Pm on the firstarea DA1 may be arranged in a pentile type, and the auxiliary pixels Paon the second area DA2 may be arranged in a stripe type. Hereinbelow, acase where the main pixels Pm on the first area DA1 and the auxiliarypixels Pa on the second area DA2 have different types of arrangementswill be described.

In FIGS. 11 and 12 described above, a portion where the first area DA1and the second area DA2 are in contact with each in a substantiallystraight line has been described. In FIGS. 13 and 14 , it is shown thata side where the first area DA1 and the second area DA2 are in contactwith each other is a diagonal line or a curved line.

According to some example embodiments, in pixels emitting light of asame color, sizes of the auxiliary pixels Pa may be greater than sizesof the main pixels Pm.

Also, according to some example embodiments, the main pixels Pm and theauxiliary pixels Pa have different types of arrangements, and thus it isimportant to reduce visibility of the boundary between the first areaDA1 and the second area DA2.

A first main pixel Pm1 emitting light of a first color, a second mainpixel Pm2 emitting light of a second color, a third main pixel Pm3emitting light of a third color may be arranged on the first area DA1,and a first auxiliary pixel Pal emitting light of a first color, asecond auxiliary pixel Pa2 emitting light of a second color, and a thirdauxiliary pixel Pa3 emitting light of a third color may be arranged onthe second area DA2. According to some example embodiments, the firstcolor may be green, and the second color and the third color may be blueor red.

According to some example embodiments, the area of an emission area ofthe first main pixel Pm1 may be less than the areas of emission areas ofthe second main pixel Pm2 and the third main pixel Pm3, and the area ofan emission area of the first auxiliary pixel Pal may be less than theareas of emission areas of the second auxiliary pixel Pa2 and the thirdauxiliary pixel Pa3. As described above, although the areas of theemission areas of the first main pixel Pm1 and the first auxiliary pixelPa1, which emit green light, are relatively small compared to the areasof emission areas of pixels emitting light of different colors, thefirst main pixel Pm1 and the first auxiliary pixel Pal are excellent inexternal visibility.

Therefore, according to some example embodiments, the first auxiliarypixel Pal may be arranged closer to the first area DA1 than the secondauxiliary pixel Pa2 and the third auxiliary pixel Pa3. That is, ashortest distance ds1 between the first auxiliary pixel Pal and thefirst area DA1 may be less than a shortest distance ds2 (or ds3) betweenthe second auxiliary pixel Pa2 (or the third auxiliary pixel Pa3) andthe first area DA1.

As described above, when the pixels Pm and Pa on the first area DA1 andthe second area DA2 have different types of arrangements, as acomparative example, distances between the pixels Pm and Pa at theboundary between the first area DA1 and the second area DA2 areincreased, so that the boundary between the first area DA1 and thesecond area DA2 is distinctly recognized, which may act as a cause ofdeteriorating the display quality over the display area DA.

Accordingly, according to some example embodiments, the first auxiliarypixel Pal with excellent visibility is adjacent closer to the first areaDA1 than the second auxiliary pixel Pa2 and the third auxiliary pixelPa3, and thus the same effect as pixels consecutively arranged at theboundary between the first area DA1 and the second area DA2 may beachieved.

Also, the first auxiliary pixel Pal has an emission area less than thoseof the second auxiliary pixel Pa2 and the third auxiliary pixel Pa3,thereby making a boundary between the auxiliary pixels Pa and the mainpixels Pm, which are smaller in size than the auxiliary pixels Pa, lessvisible. Through this, sizes of the pixels gradually increase at theboundary between the first area DA1 and the second area DA2, and thusthe visibility of the boundary between the first area DA1 and the secondarea DA2 may be reduced or minimized.

According to the embodiments made as described above, a display devicein which visibility of a boundary is minimized in a display area may beimplemented. However, the disclosure is not limited by such an effect.

It should be understood that embodiments described herein should beconsidered in a descriptive sense only and not for purposes oflimitation. Descriptions of features or aspects within each embodimentshould typically be considered as available for other similar featuresor aspects in other embodiments. While one or more embodiments have beendescribed with reference to the figures, it will be understood by thoseof ordinary skill in the art that various changes in form and detailsmay be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope asdefined by the following claims and their equivalents.

What is claimed is:
 1. A display device comprising: a substrateincluding, in a plan view, a first area and a second area adjacent tothe first area, the second area including a transmission area; aplurality of first pixels and a plurality of second pixels on the firstarea, each of the plurality of first pixels being configured to emitlight of a first color, and each of the plurality of second pixels beingconfigured to emit light of a second color; and a plurality of thirdpixels and a plurality of fourth pixels on the second area, each of theplurality of third pixels being configured to emit light of the firstcolor, and each of the plurality of fourth pixels being configured toemit light of the second color, wherein a first virtual line passingthrough a center of an emission area of each of at least two the firstpixels and a center of an emission area of each of at least two thirdpixels is parallel to a first direction, and a second virtual linepassing through a center of an emission area of each of at least twosecond pixels and a center of an emission area of each of at least twofourth pixels crosses the first direction.
 2. The display device ofclaim 1, further comprising a camera under the substrate in the secondarea.
 3. The display device of claim 1, wherein an angle between thefirst virtual line and the second virtual line is 45° or less.
 4. Thedisplay device of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of first pixelsand each of the plurality of third pixels are configured to emit greenlight.
 5. The display device of claim 4, wherein each of the pluralityof second pixels and each of the plurality of fourth pixels areconfigured to emit red or blue light.
 6. The display device of claim 1,wherein a size of the emission area of each of the plurality of firstpixels is less than a size of the emission area of each of the pluralityof second pixels, and a size of the emission area of each of theplurality of third pixels is less than a size of the emission area ofeach of the plurality of fourth pixels.
 7. The display device of claim1, further comprising a plurality of fifth pixels on the first area andconfigured to emit light of a third color, and a plurality of sixthpixels on the second area and configured to emit light of the thirdcolor.
 8. The display device of claim 7, wherein a third virtual linepassing through a center of an emission area of each of at least twofifth pixels and a center of an emission area of each of at least twosixth pixels crosses the first direction.
 9. The display device of claim8, wherein the second virtual line and the third virtual line cross eachother.
 10. The display device of claim 9, wherein a fourth virtual linepassing through the center of the emission area of each of at least twofourth pixels and a center of an emission area of each of at least twosixth pixels is spaced from and substantially parallel to the firstvirtual line, and the plurality of first pixels is not on the fourthvirtual line.
 11. The display device of claim 1, wherein a size of the emission area of each of the plurality of second pixels is greater than asize of the emission area of each of the plurality of first pixels. 12.The display device of claim 1, wherein a light transmittance of thetransmission area is between about 30% and about 90%.
 13. A displaydevice comprising: a substrate including, in a plan view, a first areaand a second area adjacent to the first area, the second area includinga transmission area; a plurality of first pixels configured to emitgreen light and a plurality of second pixels configured to emit bluelight, the plurality of first pixels and the plurality of second pixelsbeing on the first area; and a plurality of third pixels configured toemit green light and a plurality of fourth pixels configured to emitblue light, the plurality of third pixels and the plurality of fourthpixels being on the second area, wherein a first virtual line passingthrough a portion of an emission area of each of at least two firstpixels and a portion of an emission area of each of at least two thirdpixels is parallel to a first direction, wherein a second virtual linepassing through a portion of an emission area of each of at least twosecond pixels and a portion of an emission area of each of at least twofourth pixels crosses the first direction, and wherein an angle betweenthe first virtual line and the second virtual line is 45° or less. 14.The display device of claim 13, further comprising a camera under thesubstrate in the second area.
 15. The display device of claim 13,wherein a size of the emission area each of the plurality of secondpixels is greater than a size of the emission area of each of theplurality of first pixels.
 16. The display device of claim 15, wherein asize of the emission area of each of the plurality of first pixels isgreater than a size of the emission area of each of the plurality ofthird pixels.
 17. The display device of claim 13, wherein a lighttransmittance of the transmission area is between about 30% and about90%.
 18. A display device comprising: a substrate including, in a planview, a first area and a second area adjacent to the first area, thesecond area including a transmission area; a plurality of first pixelsconfigured to emit green light, a plurality of second pixels configuredto emit blue light and a plurality of fifth pixels configured to emitred light, the plurality of first pixels, the plurality of second pixelsand the plurality of fifth pixels being on the first area; and aplurality of third pixels configured to emit green light, a plurality offourth pixels configured to emit blue light and a plurality of sixthpixels configured to emit red light, the plurality of third pixels, theplurality of fourth pixels, and the plurality of sixth pixels being onthe second area, wherein a first virtual line passing through a portionof an emission area of each of at least two first pixels and a portionof an emission area of each of at least two third pixels is parallel toa first direction, wherein a second virtual line passing through aportion of an emission area of each of at least two second pixels and aportion of an emission area of each of at least two fourth pixelscrosses the first direction, wherein a third virtual line passingthrough a portion of an emission area of each of at least two fifthpixels and a portion of an emission area of each of at least two sixthpixels crosses the first direction, wherein an angle between the firstvirtual line and the second virtual line is 45° or less, and wherein thesecond virtual line and the third virtual line cross each other.
 19. Thedisplay device of claim 18, further comprising a camera under thesubstrate in the second area.
 20. The display device of claim 18,wherein a size of the emission area each of the plurality of secondpixels is greater than a size of the emission area of each of theplurality of the first pixels.
 21. The display device of claim 18,further comprising a plurality of seventh pixels on the first area andconfigured to emit green light, and a plurality of eighth pixels on thesecond area and configured to emit green light, wherein the plurality offirst pixels, the plurality of seventh pixels, the plurality of thirdpixels, and the plurality of eighth pixels are sequentially arranged inthe first direction, and wherein no pixel is located between theplurality of first pixels and the plurality of seventh pixels, betweenthe plurality of seventh pixels and the plurality of third pixels, andbetween the plurality of third pixels and the plurality of eighth pixelsalong the first direction.
 22. The display device of claim 21, wherein asize of the emission area of each of the plurality of first pixels andeach of the plurality of seventh pixels is greater than a size of theemission area of each of the plurality of third pixels and each of theplurality of eighth pixels.
 23. The display device of claim 22, furthercomprising a camera under the substrate in the second area.
 24. Thedisplay device of claim 23, wherein a light transmittance of thetransmission area is between about 30% and about 90%.